Posting Language
Title
Authorize negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with the Austin Independent School District to support Literacy First, a reading and tutoring intervention program, for a 12-month term through September 30, 2027, in an amount not to exceed $100,000, with four 12-month renewal options in amounts not to exceed $100,000 per renewal option, for a total agreement amount not to exceed $500,000. Funding: $100,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Austin Parks and Recreation Department Operating Budget. Funding for the agreement is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.
De
Lead Department
Austin Parks and Recreation.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $100,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Austin Parks and Recreation Department Operating Budget. Funding for the agreement is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.
Prior Council Action:
September 25, 2014 - City Council authorized the negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with
the Austin Independent School District (AISD).
September 17, 2015 - City Council authorized an amendment to the interlocal agreement with AISD.
August 4, 2016 - City Council authorized an amendment to the interlocal agreement with AISD.
October 17, 2017 - City Council authorized the negotiation and execution of a new interlocal agreement with AISD.
December 9, 2021 - City Council authorized the negotiation and execution of a new interlocal agreement with AISD.
For More Information:
Jodi Jay, Assistant Director, 512-974- 9459; David Crabb, Division Manager, 512-965-0943.
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
October 26, 2026 - Recommended for approval by the Parks and Recreation Board on a vote of 9-0. Recommendation No. 20261026-003.
Additional Backup Information:
Recognizing the importance of early intervention to improve the reading and writing skills of Austin’s youth, on December 9, 2021, Council authorized an interlocal agreement with AISD to support a reading and tutoring intervention program. This program, known as Literacy First, was provided in AISD Title I elementary schools in the Eastside Memorial Vertical Team.
Literacy First is an early childhood literacy program created at the Charles Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin. The Center’s mission places highly trained AmeriCorps members in Title I elementary schools that are also economically disadvantaged to deliver intensive tutoring to advance K-2nd students to grade level in reading by third grade. These tutors provide intensive, daily, bilingual, reading tutoring to approximately 2,285 K-2nd grade students across all program locations.
Since Fiscal Year 2005-2006, the City, through Austin Parks and Recreation, has partnered with AISD and has provided an allocation of $100,000 to sustain the reading intervention and tutoring program. Moreover, provisions for the Department’s continued annual support of the program are included in the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget in the amount of $100,000.
For the 2025-2026 school year, Department funding supported the K-2nd grade Literacy First offered at Allison, Ortega, Sanchez, and Zavala elementary schools. This funding served approximately 151 District students. At least 81 percent of those students who were consistently served by Literacy First tutors were either able to graduate from the program with grade-appropriate reading skills, or demonstrated significant, accelerated reading progress and were on-track to graduate from the program.
While the previous focus was to support elementary schools within the Eastside Memorial Vertical Team, the proposed agreement will expand the program to students attending any AISD Title I elementary school.
In exchange for the City’s financial assistance, AISD will:
• Administer the program and make it available to students attending District Title I elementary schools;
• Waive rental fees associated with the City’s use of AISD facilities for the City’s Creativity Club after-school program, at Oak Hill Elementary School for the duration of this agreement;
• Waive rental fees and ancillary costs associated with use of an auditorium, a gymnasium, a classroom, a stadium, field or other facility for a City public purpose as requested by the City throughout the duration of this agreement;
• Provide transportation for AISD students participating in after-school programs provided by the Department:
o Zilker Elementary School students to the Daugherty Arts Center for no more than 36 students per trip;
o Gullett Elementary School students to Northwest Recreation Center for no more than 36 students per trip;
o Maplewood Elementary School students to Hancock Recreation Center for no more than 36 students per trip;
o Casey Elementary School students to Dittmar Recreation Center for no more than 24 students per trip;
• Assist with the marketing of Department programs and employment opportunities to its students; and
• Provide to the Department a post-program report assessing program success, identifying issues and recommending changes to improve the intervention and tutoring program for the next mentoring year.
The report requirements will include:
• Student assessment data that demonstrates the percentage of students achieving benchmark scores for their grade level;
• Total number of students tutored and the percent of students who meet criteria for successful completion of the Literacy First program;
• Detailed annual budget indicating the use of City funds in support of Literacy First; and
• Any additional information reflecting student success as a result of participation in the program.
If approved, this item will allow the Department to provide a level of funding to support Literacy First for the 2026-2027 school year and subsequent school years subject to appropriation by the City Council.